Decorative hats



p 1957 M. F. WOODW'A-RD ETAL 2,807,023

DECORATIVE HATS Filed June 16, 1954 INVENTORS m MARY F Woonwmw MADELYN A. MCQUEEN 7 ,4 TTORNEK i 4 BY United States Patent This: invention relates: to' decorative hats particularly designed to be WOIII' by women: and children at special occasions where striking; color effects are desired.

It isan object of this inventionto" provide: a decorative hat structure for women and children which is highly ornamental to" the wearer, which can be made from. numerousand varied sheeted materials. in harmonious and" contrasting colors, which: can be economically fabricated and assembled for. sale at modestcost, and which particularly adapted forwear in pageants andplays and at gardenparties, weddings and: likespecial occasions.

ln the accompanyingdrawings,

Fig. 1 is a-perspective view of a decorative hat made in accordance with this invention as it. would: appear onthe-head -of a wearer;

Fig. 2 is a lan view of the brim forming frame membe'rwnich provides: the frame structure for the hat body;

Fig. 3 is a plan view' of a stripof sheet material from which the inner facing" for the brim forming frame member may be formed;

Fig. 4 is a planview of a strip of sheet material from which the top facing for the frame member may be formed;

Fig; 5 is a plan view which illustrates the manner in which the-under and top facing strips are sewn together to encase'th'e frame member and provide a hat crown;

Fig. 6-i's' a transverse cross section of the hat as it would appear when viewed along line- 6-6- of Fig. 5;,

Fig. 7 is a modified form of'brim' forming frame member used to make a decorative hat with off-set crown;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a strip of sheet material which is out and shaped to provide the under facing for the frame member shown in Fig. 7'; and

Fig. 9 is apl an' view of a strip-of sheet material shaped to provide the top facing for the brim forming frame member shown in 'Fig. 7.

Similar referencecharacters refer to similar parts throughout the s'everal views of the drawings and specification.

The brim forming frame member 1' as shown in Fig. 2 may be made from numerous different materials which is preferabiy relatively stiff but formable into artistic shapes where aninexpensive hat to be worn only on a single occasion or for limited wear only is desired, the frame member 1 may be made from a cardboard or fiberboard, and where a more lasting hat is desired, the frame member I may be made from plastic or composition sheet inate'rial. The outer periphery 2" of the frame member may be: generally'circular, elliptical or polygonal in shape, depending upon the decorative values desired. The frame member-I has-a hole 3 therein generally shaped and sized to conform with the head of the wearer. The modified form of brim forming frame member 1 shown in Fig. 7 has its head receiving opening 3 placed in an off-center position to provide a brim of unbalanced width, with thebrim section of greatest width worn to extend either forwardiy or rearwardly of the wearers head.

The under facing strip 4 and the top facing strip 5 as shown in: Figs; 31' and: 4-, andz the. under and. top facing:

strips4"- andfi' shown in Figs. 8 and 9'may'bemade from. numerous: and varied flexible sheet materials, depending: upon the quality of hat desired; Materials" adapted. for this purpose may compri'sei-textile-fabrics such as cotton, wool or synthetic fiber textiles, woven fibers and straw, of any desired grade andfquality'. Where the hat is.- tobe worn for a singl'e or: special: occasion use only, the-under" and top faci'ng; sheets 4-4 and: 55' may be made of? crepepaper or other inexpensivefibrous and' plastic sheetingtmaterials. The under-and top facing sheetscanl advantageously be made in contrasting but harmoniouscolors suchi as pink. and blue, redlan'd; white, light green. and: orangeyellow and blue, or any other color combine.- tions suitable for the festive: occasion at. which the hat-is to be worn.

Theun'denand top facing sheets arepreferably substantially wider than/the: widthof'the brim forming part; of the frame member as defined between its inner peripheralmargin of: the" head opening 3 and its outer peripheral. mar-ginZ, so thatthe facing strips as appliedt'othe framemember provide: skirt sections extending beyond the outer periph'ery' 2 of the frame member, and crown portions extendingaround the inner perimeter of thehead opening in the frame member; The under facing strip 4-4 is also preferably somewhat wider than the top facing strip 5--5'. Where the head opening 3 is positioned at the approximatecenter of the frame member 1 as shown in Fig. 2, the inner and outer facing strip 4 and 5 may be made substantiallyuniform in width as shown in Figs. 3 and 4; and where an off center hat crown. forming hole 3 is provided in the frame member 1 as shown in Fig. 7, the inner facing strip 4' and theouter facing strip 5' maybe correspondingly shapedas indicated in Figs. 8 and 9.

Decorative hats made in accordance with this invention may be economically assembled on sewing and pleating machines in the manner illustrated in Fig. 5. The top facing strip 5-5' and theunder facing strip 4-4-" are" sewn together by aline of stitching 7 which may closely. follow the outer rim 2' of the frame member or, if desired; may b'es'ewn through the frame member adjacent theouter rimthereof, thereby providing an outer skirt 8"-8' for the under facing strip 4-4 and an outer skirt 9-9' for the top facing strip 5 which extend beyond the outer rim- 2 of the frame member. Enhanced decorative values may be obtained by making the under facing strip- 44%' of greater with than; the top facing strip 5 so that the skirt section 8 -8" of the under facing strip 4-4=' as applied to the frame member extends slightly beyond the skirtsect-ion- 9*-9"" of the top facing strip 5-5.

The-under facing strip 4-4-' and the top facing strip 55- are alsosewn together by tuck stitching 10 direct- 1y adjacent the inner rim of the head opening 3- of the frame member so as to form radially extending decorarive pleats 1-1 in the brim areas of the facing strips which cover the brim of the frame member, thereby adding further decorative values to the hat. The inner portions- 12'1'2" and 13-13 of the under and top facing strips 44 and 5-5" which extend beyond the inner rim may be pushed through the head opening 3 of the frame member to' provide a partial crown for the hat as shown more particularly in Figs. 1 and 6. The crown forming portions I212' and 13-13" together provide a heavily pleated crown section when the under and top facing strips are secured together as by the tuck stitching 10. En-v hanced decorative effects can be obtained by making the under facing strip 4-4 of sufiicient width so that the crown forming portion 12-'12 thereof extends beyond the crown portion1313 of the top facing strip 5-5' as shownin Figs. Sand 6. The heavily pleated crown portions 1212 and 13-13' will flex in conformity with the shape of the wearers head and thus comfortably cushion the hat on the wearers head.

The under and upper facing sheets 4 and 5 as shown in Figs. 8 and ,9 are applied to the brim forming frame member 1' having an off-center head hole 3. therein in the same manner as shown in Fig. 5, with the outer skirt seetime 8 and 9' of the under and top facing strip 4' and 5 extending beyond the outer rim 2 of the frame member 1 and with the inner crown portions 12' and 13 thereof forming the crown section for the hat.

To strengthen the crown portions 1212' and 1313 asthma formed, a decorative ribbon 15 may be applied to the .outside thereof to provide a hat band as shown in Fig.1. Theribbon 15 may have a bow 16 formed therein to add further decorative value to the hat. The ribbon 15 may be made in colors which pleasingly contrast with the color of the under and top facing strips. A spray of artificial flowers 17 of contrasting but harmonious color may also, be suitably secured to'the hat in an artistically arranged manner.

Highly decorative hats for women and childrens wear my be madein accordance with this invention by machine operation and at low cost from numerous and varion: fabrics, plastics, fibers, straws, paperboard, paper and other sheet materials in accordance with the quality and durability desired. Decorative hats made in accordance with this invention are especially adapted for special occasion use such as for wear by women and children in plays and pageants, at birthday and garden parties, weddings and other special occasions where inexpensive but highly pleasing and decorative effects are desired.

While certain novel features of this invention have been disclosed herein and are pointed out in the claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A decorative hat for female wear presenting a brim and a crown with open top, said brim including a brim forming frame member formed from relatively strong sheet material and having an outer rim edge and an inner rim edge which defines a head receiving opening therein, an under facing strip and a top facing strip fully covering the respective under face and top face of said frame member and each having a width substantially greater than the distance between the inner and outer rim edges of said frame member positioned therebetween, said under and top facing strips presenting rim facing portions sewn together around the outer rim edge of the frame member and sewn together adjacent the inner rim edge of the frame member by tuck stitching to thereby form radially extending pleats in the brim areas of the rim facing portionsof said strips, said strips also presenting heavily pleated crown portions adapted to extend upwardly from the head openingof the frame member for a suflicient distance to substantially contain that portion of the wearers head normally projecting above the hat brim to thereby provide a head cushioning support and the open-topped crown for the hat.

2. A decorative hat for female wear presenting a brim and, a crown with open top, said brim including a brim forming frame member formed from relatively strong sheet material and having an outer rim edge and an inner rim edge which defines a head receiving opening therein, an under facing strip and a top facing strip of contrasting color fully covering the respective under face and top face of said frame member and each having a width substantially greater than the distance between the inner and outer rim edges of said frame member positioned therebetween, said under and top facing strips presenting rim facing portions sewn together around said outer rim edgeby stitching spaced inwardly from the outer free edges of said facing strips to thereby present skirt sections extending beyond the outer rim of the frame member, said rim facing portions also being sewn together adjacent the inner rim edge of the frame member by tuck stitching to thereby form radially extending pleats in the brim areas of the rim facing portions of said strips, said strips also presenting heavily pleated crown portions adapted to extend upwardly from the head opening of the frame member for a sufficient distance to substantially contain that portion of the wearers head normally projecting above the hat brim to thereby provide a head cushioning support and the open-topped crown for the hat.

3. A decorative hat for female wear presenting a brim and a crown with open top, said brim including a brim forming frame member formed from relatively strong and flexible sheet material and having an outer rim edge and an inner rim edge which defines a head receiving opening therein, an under facing strip and a top facing strip fully covering the respective under face and top face of said frame member and each having a width substantially greater than the distance between the inner and outer rim edges of said frame member positioned therebetween, said under and top facing strips presenting rim facing portions sewn together around said outer rim edge of the frame member and sewn together adjacent said inner rim edge of the frame member by tuck stitching to thereby form radially extending pleats in the brim areas of the rim facing portions of said strips, said strips also presenting heavily pleated crown portions adapted to extend upwardly from the head opening of the frame member for a sufiicient distance to substantially contain that portion of the wearers head normally projecting above the hat brim to thereby provide a head cushioning support and the opentopped crown for the hat, and a hat band forming ribbon encircling the crown forming portions of said strips.

4. A decorative hat for female wear presenting a brim and a crown with open top, said brim including a brim forming frame member formed from relatively strong sheetvmaterial and having an outer rim edge and an inner rim edge which defines a head receiving opening therein, an under facing strip and a top facing strip fully covering the respective under face and top face of said frame member and each having a width substantially greater than the distance between the inner and outer rim edges of said frame member positioned therebetween, said under and top facing strips presenting rim facing portions sewn together around said outer rim edge by stitching spaced inwardly from the outer free edges of said facing strips to thereby present skirt sections extending beyond the outer rim of the frame member with the skirt section associated with the under facing strip extending beyond the skirt section of the top facing strip, said rim facing portions also being sewn together adjacent the inner rimedge of the frame member by tuck stitching to thereby form radially extending pleats in the brim areas of the rim facing portions of said strips, said strips also presenting heavily pleated crown portions adapted to extend through the head opening of the frame member for a sufiicient distance to substantially contain that portion of the wearers head normally projecting above the hat brim to thereby provide a head cushioning support and the open-topped crown for the hat.

5. A decorative hat for female wear presenting a brim and a crown with open top, said brim including a brim forming frame member formed from relatively strong sheet material and having an outer rim edge and an inner rim edge which defines a head receiving opening therein, an under facing strip and a top facing strip fully coveringthe respective under face and top face of said frame member and each having a width substantially greater than the distance between the inner and outer rim edges of said frame member positioned therebetween, said under and top facing strips presenting rim facing portions sewn together around said outer rim edge by stitching spaced inwardly from the outer free edges of said facing strips to thereby present skirt sections extending beyond the outer rim of the frame member, said rim facing portions also being sewn together adjacent the inner rim edge of the frame member by tuck stitching to thereby form radially extending pleats in the brim areas of the rim facing portions of said strips, said strips also presenting heavily pleated crown portions adapted to extend upwardly from the head opening of the frame member for a sufficient distance to substantially contain that portion of the wearers head normally projecting above the hat brim to thereby provide a head cushioning support and the open topped crown for the hat, the crown portion of said under facing strip projecting beyond the crown portion of said top facing strip.

6. A decorative hat for female wear presenting a brim and a crown with open top, said brim including a brim forming frame member formed from relatively strong but flexible sheet material and having an outer rim edge and an inner rim edge which defines a head receiving opening therein, an under facing strip and a top facing strip of contracting color fully covering the respective under face and top face of said frame member and each having a width substantially greater than the distance between the inner and outer rim edges of said frame member positioned therebetween, said under and top facing strips presenting rim facing portions sewn together around said outer rim edge by stitching spaced inwardly from the outer free edges of said facing strips to thereby present skirt sections extending beyond the outer rim of the frame member with the skirt section associated with the under facing strip extending beyond the skirt section of the top facing strip, said rim facing portions also being sewn together adjacent the inner rim edge of the frame member by tuck stitching to thereby form radially extending pleats in the brim areas of the rim facing portions of said strips, said strips also presenting heavily pleated crown portions adapted to extend throughthe head opening of the frame member for a sutficient distance to substantially contain that portion of the wearers head normally projecting above the hat brim to thereby provide a head cushioning support and the open-topped crown for the hat, the crown portion of said under facing strip projecting beyond the crown portion of said top facing strip, and a hat band forming ribbon encircling the crown portion of said strips.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 849,151 Mayer Apr. 2, 1907 1,179,631 Hurd Apr. 18, 1916 1,215,468 Block Feb. 13, 1917 1,221,867 Keller Apr. 10, 1917 1,676,504 Risley July 10, 1928 1,755,300 Marzak Apr. 22, 1930 1,806,155 Farrelly May 19, 1931 1,996,254 Parlow Apr. 2, 1935 2,495,041 Weiss Jan. 17, 1950 

